1. Philip Moriarty School of Physics & Astronomy philip.moriarty@nottingham.ac.uk @Moriarty2112 www.nottingham.ac.uk/physics/research/nano The Politics, Perception, and Philosophy of Physics (F34PPP)

2. Lecture 1: Induction, Deduction, Reduction What we’ll cover in F34PPP (and some disclaimers) Timetable and assessment Observations and facts (or “facts”?) Deduction, induction, and Bacon Is science irrational? Are we unbiased?

3. DATETITLETYPE Sept. 29Induction, deduction, reduction.Lecture Oct. 6Wrong, or not even wrong?Lecture Oct. 13Are most scientific papers wrong?Lecture Oct. 20The Science WarsSeminar and discussion Oct. 27The power and perils of peer reviewSeminar and discussion Nov. 3Is science a public good?Seminar and discussion Nov. 10Responsible InnovationSeminar and discussion (2 hr) Nov. 17Communication breakdown?Seminar and panel Nov. 24Maybe, Minister: Can science and politics speak the same language? Seminar and discussion Dec. 1Research ethicsSeminar and panel Dec 8.Brave new world?Panel F34PPP in brief All sessions in B17, 2 pm, Mondays (autumn semester)

4. F34PPP in brief: Recommended reading - What is this thing called science?, 3 rd edition, AF Chalmers (Open University Press, 1999) - Understanding philosophy of science, J. Ladyman (Routledge, 2002) - Philosophy of science: A very short introduction, S. Okasha (Oxford University Press, 2002)

5. F34PPP in brief -- assessment A short "blog post" (300 words) [Deadline: Oct. 13] An opinion piece (along the lines of a one-page Physics World article) [Deadline: Nov. 19] A "feature article" (2000 words, in the style of a broadsheet article) [Deadline: Dec. 11]

6. Science – more than just a technology driver http://www.4004.com/assets/PB120046.JPG - How is scientific knowledge different from other forms of knowledge? [Epistemology] - Can we define the scientific method? www.spreadshirt.co.uk/logic+t-shirts

7. p.2, “Understanding philosophy of science”, J. Ladyman Science: Rational, logical, objective

8. http://xkcd.com/154/

9. “Science is derived from the facts” (Chalmers, p. 1)

10. …but are our eyes good enough?

11. And can we trust our ears?

12. Seeing is believing?: Striped nanoparticles http://physicsfocus.org/philip- moriarty-peer-review-cyber-bullies/

13. Seeing is believing?: Striped nanoparticles

15. Do we really see intermolecular bonds? Zhang et al., Science 342 611 (2013)

16. Do we really see intermolecular bonds?

17. Unrelaxed tip: nothing Relaxed tip: sharp inter- and intramolecular “bonds” resolved Do we really see intermolecular bonds?

18. Logic and reason “Logic is the study of reasoning abstracted from what that reasoning is about.” [Ladyman]  All dachshunds are good physicists. Daisy is a dachshund. Therefore Daisy is a good physicist. Both are valid arguments!

19. Logic and reason: Deduction Invalid arguments! All dachshunds are good physicists Edward is a good physicist Therefore Edward is a dachshund. All human beings are animals Daisy is an animal Therefore Daisy is a human being

20. Another valid but bad argument The Bible says that God exists. The Bible is the word of God and therefore true. Therefore God exists.

21. Invalid but not necessarily bad argument… Moriarty claims to be a physicist I have no reason to believe he is lying Therefore Moriarty is a physicist Both premises could be true but conclusion could be false – invalid argument.